The behavioural approach to treating phobias Flashcards
systematic desensitisation
A behavioural therapy designed to gradually reduce phobic anxiety through classical conditioning. This therapy involves drawing up a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations related to a person’s phobic stimulus, teaching the person to relax -as it is impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time, so one emotion prevents the other- and then exposing them to phobic situations. The person works their way through the hierarchy whilst maintaining relaxation.
Evaluation of systematic desensitisation
Strength – there is evidence for its effectiveness. Gilroy et al followed up on 42 people who had SD for spider phobia in three 45 minute sessions. The SD group was less fearful than a control group treated by relaxation without exposure. Therefore, this shows that SD is likely to be helpful for treating people with phobias.
Strength – it can be used to help people with learning disabilities. People with learning disabilities often struggle with cognitive therapies that require complex rational thought. They may also feel confused and distressed by the traumatic experience of flooding. Therefore, this means SD is often the most appropriate treatment for people with learning disabilities who have phobias.
Weakness - One limitation of SD is that it is time consuming. SD requires more sessions and more work than other treatments such as flooding. The person with the phobia needs to be trained in relaxation techniques and the gradual exposure can take many sessions.
flooding
A behavioural therapy which involves exposing people with a phobia to their phobic stimulus with immediate exposure to a very frightening situation. Flooding stops phobic responses very quickly, because without avoidance, the client quickly learns the phobic stimulus is harmless. Clients must give fully informed consent to this traumatic procedure so they are fully prepared.
evaluation of flooding
Strength – highly cost effective. Flooding can work in as little as one session, as opposed to 10 sessions of SD to achieve the same result. Even allowing for longer flooding sessions makes it a more cost effective method. This means that more people can be treated at the same cost with flooding than with SD or other therapies.
Weakness – it is a highly unpleasant experience. Confronting one’s phobic stimulus in an extreme form provokes tremendous anxiety. This raises the ethical issue for psychologists of knowingly causing stress to their clients, although this isn’t a serious issue if the client gave informed consent. The traumatic nature of flooding means attrition rates are higher than for SD. This suggests that overall therapists may avoid using this treatment.
